Travelling in a van without a plan for six months—who doesn’t dream of that? Still, there are very few people who actually do it. Maybe you have to be so incredibly through with your life, that you just can’t think of a better plan. Gertrude Lok left for Canada, bought a converted van with a bed and a genny, drove from one coast to the other and kept a diary.
On the way, she sees grey whales and black bears, gets lost in the forest, meets the most helpful people and learns about Canada’s indigenous (First Nations) cultures. She makes friends and goes camping in the bush, deals with the death of a friend, flirts with a stuntman, gets caught in a hurricane, loses her passport—but recovers her zen.
Not just any travel journal or a collection of witty columns, but a less-than-ordinary self-help book, that can be an inspiration to many of you to seek out your own adventure and reclaim your life.
Tineke Goebertus –
I received my copy of Walkabout from a Dutch friend. It took Canada Post almost 4 weeks to deliver it to my door, it took me 2 days to read it…. I am a Dutch girl who has been in BC Canada for almost 30 years.
I am not envious of the reasons why Gertrude undertook this trip, but I am of the trip itself!
I can relate to a lot of the places she has visited and to the people she met crossing Canada. Canadians are great, welcoming and proud-of-their-country people, and Gertrude appreciates them for who they are.
To me, Gertrude is very brave to put herself out there as she did, and I wish her all the best. I love her writing style spiced with humor and self-reflection. The lay-out is like anything I have ever seen, wow!
Mark Allsebrook (geverifieerde eigenaar) –
Having spent a few weeks travelling in Canada last year myself, I was eager to read this account of the trip I would love to make.
Gertrude’s ability to evoke images and give insights into the local culture, pulling them together in the form of a written memoir style book is great fun to read. Her openness about the reasons for the trip and the ups and downs involved have you asking questions of yourself at times, and feeling empathy at others.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to explore, likes to travel and likes to understand how people see the world.